Watch



Och 20 1931.

R. J. SCHWARZ WATCH Filed Oct. 25, 1929 Patented Oct. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT. oFFlc RUDOLPH J. SCHWARZ, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIG-NOR TO AMERICAN STANDARD WATCHCASE COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND Application filed October 23, 1929. Serial No. 401,817.

This invention relates to watches, and the primary object thereof is to provide means for effectively holding the center, which encases the watch movement, engaged with the front or dial face of the watch case, when the back of the watch case is in closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide spring means for the purpose supra, whereby to hold or support the watch center under tension and against the front face of the watch case.

Still further the invention aims to provide means for the specified purpose, which is of simple and economical construction and which can be easily and quickly applied to the watch center.

In the drawings 2- Figure 1 is a bot-tom plan view of a watch center with the present invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a top edge plan; and

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1, showing the watch case front and back applied to the center to illustrate the operative position of the parts.

In proceeding in accordance with the present invention, the center 1 may be of any desired construction or form and has an opening 2 in its center to receive the watch movement not shown. The center may be hinged to the hinge knuckles shown at 3, or may be otherwise secured to the case, the latter having the customary back 4 and front 5.

The invention resides in the provision of substantially U-shaped unitary spring members having bases 6 which become centrally bowed at 7 when the legs 8, which latter are freely slidable through holes 9 that are drilled transversely through the body of the center, are moved inwardly as shown in Figure 3. These holes 9 are arranged in two pairs that are diametrically opposed which relation to the opening 2, and the holes of each pair are connected by slots 10 formed in the under face of the center body 1. Thus it will be seen that one of the legs or pins 8 is located at each of the four corners of the body 1.

For the purpose of tensioning the legs 8 and at the same time to hold the members in position, transverse pins 11 are employed and are driven into holes provided therefor in the body 1, the pins extending across and engaging the central portions 7 so as to hold the latter against the upper face of the center. Thus, the pins 11 not only secure the U-shaped spring members in position, but also hold the central parts of the bases of the members against movement, so that when the free ends of the legs 8 are engaged by the back 4, upon the'latter being in closed position the legs will be moved inwardly against the tension of the end parts of the base 6. 'With the legs so tensioned, it will be apparent that the watch center "will be resiliently supported and urged toward the front 5.

A slot 12 is preferably provided at one of the corners of the body 1 to receive a knife or other sharp" instrument to facilitate removal of the watch center. i

The invention, it will be noted, thus pro- I vides four distinct and separate spaced ten sioning pins, withthe use of but two unitary elements, affording not only an economical construction, but also one easily assembled in that but two operations are involved.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i 1. In a watch, a center composed of a body having a central opening and having diametrically opposed pairs of spaced holes extended transversely through the body, and having slots in its upper faceconnecting the holes of the pairs, a substantially U-shaped spring member for each pair of holes having its base in the slot connecting the pair and having its legs slidable through the holes a pin for each member extending transversely across the central portion of the base and engaged therewith and holding said portion engaged with the bottom of the slot, and a front and a back for the body, the back being engaged with the free ends of the legs of the member to urge the body toward the front.

2. In a watch, a center composed of a body having a central opening and having diametrically opposed pairs of spaced holes eX- tending transversely through the body, and

having slots in its upper face connecting the 1 holes of the pairs, a substantially U-shaped spring member for each pair of holes havlng its base in the slot connecting the pair and having its legs slidable through the holes, means engaging the central portion of each member to hold same against the bottom of the slot, and a front and a back for the body, the back being engaged with the free ends of the legs of the member to urge the body toward the front.

3. In a watch, a center body, a back and a front for the body, said body having opposed pairs of holes extending therethrough, a pin in each hole, and spring means connecting the pins in pairs and tensioning the pins to cause same to engage the back thereby to urge the body toward the front.

4. In a watch, a center composed of a body having upper and lower side faces, the upper side face being formed with a pair of spaced opposed slots, a pair of substantially U- shaped spring members of a diameter sub stantially equal to the width of the slots having their central portions seated on the bottoms of the slots and having each of their endsfree and projecting outwardly from the lower side face of the body whereby to provide four supports, a pin for each member secured to the body and extending across the central portion of the slot and engaged with the member to hold same against the bottom of the slot, and a front and aback for the body, the back being engaged by the free ends of the members to urge the body toward the front.

5. In a watch, a center composed of a body having upper and lower side faces, the upper side face being formed with a pair of slots, a pair of substantially U-shaped spring members of a diameter substantially equal to the width of the slots having their central portions disposed in the slots and having each of their ends free and projecting outwardly from the lower side face of the body whereby to provide four supports, means for holding the spring members in the slots, and a front and a back for the body, the back being engaged by the free ends of the members to urge the body toward the front.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RUDOLPH J. SCHVVARZ. 

